SMART Objectives Session Objectives Demonstrate how ACSM objectives

SMART Objectives

Session Objectives • Demonstrate how ACSM objectives link to NTP objectives. • Describe SMART criteria for effective objectives. • Apply criteria in writing actual objectives.

What is an OBJECTIVE? OBJECTIVES GOAL ACSM activities • How the results of your short-term program activities contribute to the big goal. • Several objectives can relate to the same goal.

ACSM Objective Examples • Aggressively advocate to increase NTP budget by 8% each year for the next four years. • Double the percentage of secondary school students who can correctly identify TB symptoms by 2015. • Partner with Red Cross nurses to pilot a treatment support program for newly released prisoners with TB by 2015.

Link to NTP Objectives • ACSM objectives should always link (and thus contribute) to a specific NTP objective. • Always address a key challenge and barrier that you know is happening. • Watch your assumptions!

Effective Objectives Are SMART! • Specific • Measureable • Attainable • Relevant • Time-bound Clear, well-written objectives make your M&E easier!

Specific • Single focus or result • No overlap with other objectives ü ü What do I want to accomplish? With whom? Where? When?

Measurable • Can it be quantified or measured? ü How much? ü How many? ü How will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable • Can we really do this? • Is this achievable and easy to put into action? • Considers limits such as resources, personnel, cost, and time frame.

Relevant • Does this connect to the larger goal? • Does this seem worthwhile? • How important is this objective to our work?

Time-bound • This is the objective’s “due date. ” • When do we expect the change to happen? • Keeps activities on track and moving.

How SMART Is This? • Conduct World TB Day events to raise awareness of TB. • Conduct two celebrity rallies on World TB Day 2014 to promote awareness of a national TB hotline and website.

Common Mistakes • Objectives are not SMART and therefore not measurable or meaningful. • Focus too broad. • Too many objectives. • Barriers and objectives based on assumptions. • Too much importance placed on awareness and knowledge and not enough on action.

Objectives Are ACTION! • • • Increase Decrease Create Streamline Recruit Train Develop Facilitate Design • • • Collect Launch Build Change Reduce Acquire Distribute Produce Invite

Writing Objectives Verb For/ With Whom What How Many How Much By Increase Decrease Strengthen Prevent Reduce Improve Develop Knowledge Attitudes Skills Behavior Condition Population Participants Client Individual Family Providers Leaders Community From: Baseline To: Target By: ______ Actual # Due date Example: Increase % of DOTS referrals From primary From 5% to 20% By 2014 caregivers

Let’s Practice Some Writing!